SIPTU members in Aer Lingus ‘outraged’ at media report that staff stealing ‘many millions of euro’ from customers and colleagues

SIPTU members and workplace representatives in Aer Lingus said they are ‘outraged’ about the front page report in the Sunday Independent newspaper on 02 December which suggests that senior management at the company believes that staff are ‘stealing many millions’ worth of goods.

The paper reported that Aer Lingus is rolling out CCTV cameras across Dublin Airport and engaging private security to carry out random patrols of staff areas, as millions of euro worth of goods have been stolen from passengers of the airline.

It is understood the airline’s chief operating officer made the allegations and the Sunday Independent reported that gardaí, as well as both local police and federal law enforcement authorities in the US, have been called in to investigate a number of ‘serious issues in recent months’.

Sunday Independent (Pic: InsideIreland.ie)

SIPTU representatives said they will seek to ensure that the ‘good name and reputation of union members and all workers in Aer Lingus are protected and fully vindicated’ from the claims.

“Such blanket character assassination is unacceptable and the union has called on Aer Lingus management to provide evidence as to whether there is any basis to the claims and to follow appropriate procedures, due process and, if required, report them to the appropriate authorities.”

SIPTU representatives said they correspond directly with Aer Lingus management on Monday 3rd December to seek an immediate meeting with its Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Kavanagh, to discuss the matters raised in the Sunday Independent.

SIPTU said they also spoke to their colleagues in the Aer Lingus Group of Unions, which is mandated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

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